Question

In 300 words or less, describe Oedipus as a character. What are his major attributes, including his strengths and weaknesses? Cite specific examples from the text wherever possible.

Answer 1

You'll have to cite this information:

Half of his tragic flaw is anger, as it caused him to kill his father. The death of his father is a very large part of his downfall. Another flaw is his pride, as he refuses to accept his fate. His main strength, however, is his intelligence. He was courageous, which allowed him to confront and destroy the sphinx.

Answer 2

Oedipus is the protagonist of the drama. Future King of Thebes, son of the current King Laius and his wife, Jocasta. By various hazards of fate, Oedipus ends up killing his father and marrying his mother, thus fulfilling a prophecy made by the oracle. He is a brave, honest and just man. The perfect king for Thebes because he cares for and protects his people. However, despite his good intentions, he is unable to avoid his tragic, unjust and painful destiny.

This is one of the reasons why the work is considered a classic tragedy, formed by characters that symbolize universal emotions, to which misfortunes occur as deaths, suicides, epidemics or madness, and all this is told using a cultured language and with a high register.

Fate is written in us and, like Oedipus, despite our multiple attempts to escape from it, we will succumb to his will sooner or later. This thought involves the whole work. His psychological profile is very well defined and, what is certain is that Oedipus is presented to us as a brave man and, above all, as a just man. He works daily to protect both his people and his family. But no matter how hard he tries, Oedipus is unable to fool his destiny.

Oedipus is the character that embodies the most universal human emotions, therefore, we see that this protagonist experiences a variety of feelings during the play, such as anger, pain, love, anger and impotence.